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California McDonald's mark Egg McMuffin's 40th birthday

August 30, 2012

The Egg McMuffin breakfast sandwich is turning 40 and McDonald's of the Greater Bay Area, in California, is celebrating by hosting trivia promotions through Twitter and local radio stations.

The Egg McMuffin's recipe, including USDA Grade A eggs, is the same as it was when it debuted in 1972.

"The Egg McMuffin hasn't changed much in 40 years. In fact, it can still fit into its original wrapper at just 300 calories," says David Martinelli, McDonald's USA Pacific Sierra Region marketing manager. "The classic sandwich still includes a freshly toasted English muffin, a slice of lean Canadian bacon, a fresh cracked egg, and a slice of melted American cheese, just like it did 40 years ago."

Herb Peterson, a McDonald's franchisee, created the Egg McMuffin in 1972 because he wanted a breakfast offering served before 11 am. Peterson eventually introduced the breakfast sandwich to McDonald's president Ray Kroc, who loved the sandwich so much that he ordered it to be launched nationally, thus putting breakfast on the menu for McDonald's. Now, the Egg McMuffin is sold around the world, sometimes with local variations that include ingredients such as chicken, tomato or ketchup.

To celebrate the milestone, McDonald's of the Greater Bay Area is asking consumers to share their photos on Twitter with @McD_BayArea through a 40-day photo-a-day program.

Read more about social media promotions.